MICHIGAN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERRoyal Oak | Detroit | Michigan

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Congratulations on your engagement! He proposed and you

said "Yes"! An exciting time is ahead of you!

When it comes down to wedding planning- it is all about to

getting it done right. A lot of couples struggle because most of

us have never planned a wedding before. Yes, you need to

create a budget and yes, you need to know how much every

segment is going to cost you. Also do not forget all the small

details which might add up during your planning.

The 12 tips below may seem basic but they will cover almost

every aspect of the wedding planning process which will help

you plan and calculate wedding costs more efficiently.

The article also provides tools and websites to help keep you

on track during the process. It gives examples on how to use

those tools and offers advice during the planning period.

In the end it is your day and you should enjoy it as much as

possible!

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Tip 1 - Create a Budget

Wedding planning does not happen every day in our lives. It

might only happen once in lifetime. A realistic budget is key for

a successful and smooth wedding day. It is recommended to

start early in planning the wedding budget. The most costly

part will be the venue. You also do not want to forget the small

details like invitations, favors and so on which may add up

during the planning process.

To have at a better idea on how much a wedding will

approximately cost in your area, there is a great wedding tool

you can use to calculate costs. Just follow the link to find out

more about wedding costs. Cost Of Wedding breaks down the

price into different categories and you can customize them

according to your needs.

First- enter your information on where the wedding is going to

take place, how many guests you are going to invite and how

far away the wedding is going to be. Select your wedding style

and check if you are planning to hire a professional for your

wedding like a photographer/videographer.

Second- customize the different items you have to purchase

for the wedding day. Items you do not want or that you have

already purchased should be de-selected from the list.

Cost of Wedding will give you a ball park number of the

wedding cost depending on your criteria and what items you

have selected. The idea behind this tool is to help you have a

better idea of the wedding costs in total. From here on you can

tweak the numbers by including or excluding items and start

planning. You can also export the data sheet to Microsoft Excel

for further use or print the estimate. While creating the

budget for the wedding it is important to be reasonable in

order to avoid overstretching your budget during the planning

process.

Since the venue will be the most expensive part of your

wedding Shane M. from Cost of Wedding suggests:

"You want to keep costs lower, keep the guest list"You want to keep costs lower, keep the guest list

lean."lean."

Once you have an idea how much you can spend on a wedding

it is very vital to keep track of the costs.

Botanicalpaperworks provides a very useful tracking sheet

allowing you to plan and track your spending.

You can download a free personal copy here.

Tip 2 - Create aChecklist

Keep track of the wedding planning progress, set milestones

and check them off when they are done. This way you will not

lose track of every planning aspect.

Here Comes The Guide offers a free printable checklist with

additional lines for personal preferences. It breaks down the

wedding in different planning stages and guides you through

the wedding process. You can download the full list here.

Jolene H. from Here Comes The Guide says:

"My #1 Tip: Get it In Writing! Read all contracts"My #1 Tip: Get it In Writing! Read all contracts

between you and the vendors and your venuebetween you and the vendors and your venue

carefully, including all fine print and contingencies. Ifcarefully, including all fine print and contingencies. If

you don’t understand something, ask. In fact, it’s ayou don’t understand something, ask. In fact, it’s a

good idea to ask a trusted friend or relative to reviewgood idea to ask a trusted friend or relative to review

all contracts with you. They’re not as caught up in theall contracts with you. They’re not as caught up in the

emotion of the planning process, and might be able toemotion of the planning process, and might be able to

think a bit more pragmatically than you at thisthink a bit more pragmatically than you at this

stressed-out time. And if there’s something specificstressed-out time. And if there’s something specific

about the place or service that is a “must have,” don’tabout the place or service that is a “must have,” don’t

be afraid to ask the vendor to specify it in yourbe afraid to ask the vendor to specify it in your

contract. Otherwise, you might be surprised to findcontract. Otherwise, you might be surprised to find

your reception was moved to the smaller ballroom oryour reception was moved to the smaller ballroom or

that your wedding bouquet has dahlias instead ofthat your wedding bouquet has dahlias instead of

peonies!"peonies!"

Tip 3 - Do not Skimpon weddingphotography

Your wedding photos will be the most valuable items you will

keep after the wedding day. The chocolate fountain might

impress for a moment, the music will fade but the pictures will

last a lifetime. After 30 or 40 years, they will still be as valuable

as the first day or even more.

Use as much for photography as the budget will allow you. If

you have a friend with a camera do not let him/her take your

wedding pictures, unless he or she is a professional wedding

photographer.

Tip 4 - Do not planEvery Day

You whole life once engaged should not be around the

wedding planning. Just do normal things you would do when

you were not engaged. If you need to set up a reminder

besides the wedding checklist, Google Calendar offers a good

set of tools. Just sign up with Google+. It will grant you access

to different apps. One of them is Google Calendar. Just select a

due date or an appointment and create an event. If you edit it,

you can set up reminders and also set up a time and date when

it will pop-up. Very handy when it gets closer to the wedding

day or a bakery appointment.

Set up an appointment date, enter the location, enter the

description and add an optional notification.

Tip 5 - Give EdibleFavors

Food wedding favors can be a creative way to say thank you to

your wedding guests and it can save you money if you plan to

bake some cookies or other treats yourself. A lot of bakeries

offer customized cookies, cake pops and different sweets as

wedding favors. Print a personal tag (Staples or Michaels

provides ready to print tag templates) and you will make a

personal favor which also tastes good rather than a glass with

a laser imprint.

Instructables and Pinterest offer a variety of ideas for wedding

favors!

Tip 6 - Do Things YouWant to Do

Do not do things you do not want to do and do not get pushed

to do them. It is your wedding day, no one elses, and your ideas

and only your ideas count. If you want a specific wedding color

then you pick it. If you want specific flowers in your bouquet,

have them. It is your big day. If someone else is paying for the

wedding, ask for their input but let them not influence you and

drive your decisions. You should consider their input but the

last decision should be yours.

Tip 7 - Book Fast

Once you start planning, set up a wedding date and create a

budget. After that you should start looking for venues in your

area. Once you found the one you like, call them up and ask if

they are available. Since it is early in the planning phase, dates

can be shifted. That is why it is important to book in the

following order to not get disappointed later.

1. Wedding Venue

2. Wedding Dress

3. Wedding Photography / Videography

4. Catering

5. Bar

6. Entertainment

Venue, Dress and Wedding Photography/Videography always

book way in advance, that is why it is important to check early

in the planning process and book them as early as possible.

Tip 8 - Dress Shopping

Take only a maximum of two people which whom you value the

most to dress shop with you. Too many opinions on your

wedding dress may get you stressed out and push you into the

wrong direction. Take your mother and/or maid of honor with

you. As with all wedding planning, you should have the last

decision. It is very important to know that ordering a wedding

dress can take up to 9 months to arrive and up to 6 weeks for

alterations. Make sure you shop for a dress early enough so it

can get altered and re-fitted in time.

Tip 9 - Try some DIY

Crafts can be fun and a lot of small details which can end up

costing a lot can be done by hand. Although it takes a little bit

longer to complete you can involve your family and friends for

a DIY session. Offer them some drinks and snacks and who

knows you may discover the craft person in you.

Print websites often offer you the possibility to create your

own template or upload you own pictures and add text to it.

Upload your engagement or your wedding invitation pictures

and add your text and print them. Crafts stores also offer

templates for wedding programs and invitations.

Tip 10 - Take some timeaway

During the wedding day just take a couple minutes away from

the hectic and have some time with your other half. Reflect the

whole wedding planning process and rethink everything what

lead to this special day. The day will fly by very fast. Just take

some time for yourself and enjoy your day!

Tip 11 - Hire aWedding Planner

If the wedding planning gets too busy and too much for you to

handle- a wedding planner can take some stress away from the

planning process. The wedding planner communicates with

the wedding vendors, making sure they deliver on time and

execute your vision. He or she will make sure that your

wedding day runs as smooth as possible. Some planners even

offer to be present the day of the wedding as well to check if

everything runs as you want it to be. It is important to make

sure that the wedding planner you hired is also available

during your wedding day and not an assistant.

Tip 12 - Have Fun

In the end it is YOUR wedding day. Forget all the planning and

Royal Oak, Michigan Wedding Photographer | Copyright © 2015 Alexander Zacharov

! " # $ % &

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'

In the end it is YOUR wedding day. Forget all the planning and

stress. Have a drink, enjoy your family and friends and a new

chapter in your life!

About Alexander Zacharov

Alex is a Michigan wedding photographer based in Royal Oak. He specializes in wedding, portrait and event photography. He

photographs weddings and events throughout the year. For more updates and information please visit the social media links

below. Check in frequently for blog and site updates.

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